PM Julia Gillard releases new figures in Gonski push to Qld Government

The Federal Government has released figures suggesting all Queensland public schools would be significantly better off under the Gonski funding arrangements.

Prime Minister Julia Gillard is visiting a school at Bracken Ridge on Brisbane's northern outskirts this morning after the release of financial modelling.

The calculations indicate most funding would increase by between 20 to 50 per cent by 2019.

Isolated schools would be the biggest beneficiaries, with funding for schools such as Pormpuraaw and Mornington Island in the state's far north set to more than double.

Ms Gillard has defended her decision to demand state and territory leaders sign up to the Gonski education deal by the end of the month.

She has only managed to convince New South Wales and the ACT to join the proposed national school funding agreement.

Ms Gillard says the deadline in genuine and the states and the northern territory are running out of time.

"We've always said the 30th of June so schools can properly plan for the school year," she said.

Newman 'scaremongering'

Education Minister Peter Garrett says the figures show Premier Campbell Newman and the Queensland Government has been scaremongering on the reforms.

"It's now time for Premier Newman to put down the boxing gloves, pick up the phone, and start negotiating with the Commonwealth," he said.

"Here's a once in a lifetime opportunity for Queensland schools to see an additional $3.8 billion over the next six years.

"That is definitely in the interest of schools right around this state."

Queensland Teachers Union (QTU) spokesman Kevin Bates says the State Government should immediately sign up to Gonski.

"What we have to do is give some hope to Queensland schools at the moment, given the state budget and given other things that have happened," he said.

"Teachers really do need to have - and parents really do need to have - something to look forward to and that's what Gonski would deliver."

'Old money rebadged'

However, Queensland Education Minister John-Paul Langbroek says he is not convinced.

Mr Langbroek says he is disturbed to hear that Ms Gillard is negotiating separately with the state's private schools.

"I am the Minister for all schools and I have that acknowledgement from both of those other sectors - the Catholics and independents - who have been happy for us to conduct the negotiations," he said.

"Even that begs the question as to why the Prime Minister is not prepared to deal with the Minister for Education in Queensland, but would rather try to negotiate separately with two other school groups."

Mr Langbroek says he is worried there have been no figures released for independent and Catholic schools.

"We'll look at the figures and we'll analyse them - we've always been concerned that there wasn't going to be either one sector or type of school that would miss out or even the [kindergartens] or universities," he said.

"Those are the points the Prime Minister refuses to deal with.

"I'm very concerned the list only includes state schools and I'm very concerned the list doesn't show a comparison with what the school already receives,

"This is old money rebadged as Gonski money and they are robbing from [kindergartens] and universities to pay for it."